Termosolar Alcázar, a 50/50 joint venture between Preneal, a Spanish developer of utility-scale projects, and SolarReserve, a US developer of utility-scale solar projects, is developing the Alcázar Solar Thermal Power Project. The project, located in Alcázar de San Juan (Ciudad Real, Castilla-La Mancha), Spain, will utilize SolarReserve’s molten salt power tower technology. The 50 MW project will generate 325 megawatt hours annually of clean, renewable energy.

The project has received all necessary permits to construct the facility: the Declaracion de Impacto Ambiental (DIA), Administrative Authorization, and construction license. In June 2011, the project was awarded the Spanish government’s formal tender to construct this 50 MW solar thermal project. The award was achieved through a competitive bid process based on delivered electricity price, technology innovation and the advanced state of the project development activities.

Key Project Benefits

• The project will generate more than 300,000 megawatt hours of electricity per year, enough electricity to power almost 70,000 homes in the region.
• Incorporate significant Spanish and US equipment and materials and engineering, creating an estimated 4,000 jobs in Spain and more than 2,500 jobs in the U.S. during the two-year construction period.
• Harmful emissions reduction by displacing emissions that are associated with burning fuels such as coal, oil and gas.
• Achievement of European objectives: the project will allow increasing net energy production from renewable sources, helping Spain to achieve the EU Climate & Energy objectives.